One world, one truth

By Chung Ah-young

IKSAN, North Jeolla Province — This year marks the 96th anniversary of the foundation of Won Buddhism. Sotaesan (Park Chung-bin), the founder and great master of the religion, attained great enlightenment to the truth of ultimate reality on April 28, 1916 after some 20 years of study and meditation.

The religion has a relatively short history compared to other major religions in Korea but since its birth it has rapidly grown into one of the top four — with more than 700,000 believers — alongside conventional Buddhists, Protestants and Catholics.

Ven. Munsan (Kim Jung-yong), 86, and Ven. Atawon (Chon Pal-khn), 82, who are among the few remaining disciples personally taught by the founding master, talked about his teachings and the future of the religion to commemorate the Enlightenment and Founding Day of Won Buddhism.

“The founding master was a timeless leader who was enlightened to the truth of the universe through spiritual practices, with the mission to make a better world. He always taught that the core of spiritual culture lies in the morality of humankind. Every year around this time, we celebrate his spiritual teachings and meanings,” Ven. Munsan said in an interview with The Korea Times at the headquarters of Won Buddhism in this provincial city amid a highly festive mood for its biggest celebration.

Won Buddhism, or Wonbulkyo, in Korean is a combination word for truth, enlightenment and teaching. Won means circle and symbolizes the ultimate truth. Bul means enlightenment, and Kyo refers to teaching the truth. Won Buddhism pursues a path that leads people to become enlightened to the truth.

Ilwonsang (One Circle) represents the Dharmakaya (Truth) Buddha, the origin of all things in the universe, the truth that all Buddhas and sages are enlightened, and the original nature of all sentient beings. At Won Buddhist temples, the Buddha image is replaced by Ilwonsang.

The belief teaches how to integrate spiritual practice in our everyday lives and the way or path to a peaceful world, away from negative karma and unwholesome deeds, by training people’s minds, and enhancing spirituality through faith in a truthful dharma.

Sotaesan embraced the Buddha’s teaching and at the same time modernized the traditional Buddha dharma to make it relevant to the contemporary world, thus allowing many people to utilize it to enrich their everyday lives.

In 1924, in order to realize his goal of liberating all beings from suffering, Sotaesan established the Society of the Study of the Buddha-dharma in Iksan, North Jeolla Province. He and his disciples worked, practiced, and studied to offer a new vision and hope for a future society based on practicing under the founding motto. However, in 1943, after 28 years of teaching, Sotaesan passed away at the age of 53.

“He was a new savior in the 20th century when materialism began its domination, and the minds and spirit of human beings were becoming weak. The founding master tried to cure the social malaise through the emphasis of morality and conscience to make a better world,” he said.

Ven. Munsan first met Sotaesan at the age of 14 and witnessed his work for the edification of the general public until the founder died. He recalled the late founder had an impressively robust physique with an extraordinary strong aura. “His aura mirrored his spiritual strength. We disciples have tried to follow in his footsteps in many respects,” he said.

They experienced a hard time in the early period of the religion under Japanese colonial rule (1910-45). The founding master was closely monitored by Japanese officials who kept track of his every act to detect any possibility they were related to the independence movement.

“Almost every night, a Japanese official sneaked into our headquarters to eavesdrop on the conversations of Sotaesan with his guests,” he said.

“The oppression and monitoring were severe but he never showed antipathy toward the officials. Rather, they embraced them with his teachings and impressed them. His teachings were universal and far-reaching.”

In remembrance of the founder’s words he listened to directly, Ven. Munsan published a book “A Big Smile of the Living Buddha” last year.

“Through his lifetime preaching, he always told us that our country should be a role model for the rest of the world in terms of spiritual morality and conscience by restoring human being’s nature. I think the hosting of the G20 Summit last year was not an accident. It couldn’t be achieved only with economic power. Our spiritual civilization has contributed to the successful hosting of the international event,” he said.

Ven. Atawon was the first woman who brought the indigenous belief to the world as it promoted equal rights for men and women and gave the opportunity for women to actively engage in religious activities. She translated “Won Buddhism,” a magazine, and other scriptures into English and also helped Won Buddhism join international religious organizations such as the World Conference on Religions for Peace (WCRP), the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) and the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP). She distributed the English leaflets and books to let the religion become known among participants at international events.

“When I met people in other countries, they particularly admired the integration of religious spiritual practices with everyday lives instead of training the minds at a temple in a tranquil deep mountain,” she said.

“Although Sotaesan predicted Won Buddhism wouldn’t stay only in Korea and would leap toward the world, he would never have imagined the progress our religion has made so far,” she said. Currently, some 60 Won Buddhist ministers are on missions in 19 countries around the world.

When she was a student in her childhood, Sotaesan used to tell her that “not all scientific studies are constantly in use; however, if you learn how to use the mind, this study can be utilized without a moment’s interruption. Therefore, mind practice becomes the basis for all other studies.”

In her memory, the founding master was a “grandfather” living next door as she lived beside the headquarters from an early age.

“He was warm-hearted but strict when judging people by putting more emphasis on the inner states of people rather than outer. I was close to him like the relationship between a granddaughter and a grandfather and he always guided me in the right direction,” she said. “I believe that his inspiring thoughts will help Won Buddhism become an international religion.”